Sides settle in Sanford trespassing case, court says

CHARLESTON, S.C., May 9 (UPI) -- Newly elected U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., and his ex-wife reached a settlement in a trespassing case and will avoid a court appearance, the court said.

The Charleston County Family Court judge's office said both sides reached an agreement and won't have to go to court on a trespassing complaint his ex-wife, Jenny Sanford, filed against him for entering her home to watch part of the Super Bowl with their youngest son while she wasn't there, WCIV-TV, Charleston, reported Wednesday.

The settlement includes a $5,000 payout for Jenny Sanford's court fees due within 30 days. Sanford, who finished his gubernatorial term under a cloud after it was revealed he had an affair, also admitted he was in contempt for the February trespassing incident, as well as other instances when he went to his ex-wife's home without permission, court documents indicated.

The settlement also said Sanford will be required to appear in court for sentencing if he violates the agreement.

The incident became known during the 1st Congressional District race and resulted in the National Republican Congressional Committee to pull funding from Sanford's campaign.

In 2009 it was revealed Sanford left South Carolina to fly to Argentina to meet his mistress, now his fiancee, even though his office said he was elsewhere. A legislative committee voted to censure but not impeach him and he served out the remainder of his term

The State Election Commission said Sanford won every county in the 1st Congressional District over Democratic challenger Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of satirist Stephen Colbert. They faced off Tuesday in a special election to replace Tim Scott, who was appointed to fill the U.S. Senate term of Jim DeMint, who resigned to lead the Heritage Foundation think tank.

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